Last fall I raked a yard full of leaves but wasn't able to get several large piles bagged up and removed because of work and/or constant rain. Well, fall turned into winter and then into spring and we're just now getting around to removing those piles of leaves.

So after an extremely wet winter, the leaf piles have left a nice dead zone or three in my back yard.

What's the best way to treat these patches?

The yard's soil is pretty crap and very uneven, and good grass has always been spotty (house is a rental). Last summer the yard was pretty good until the torrential rains set in and some sort of weed from my neighbor's yard took over the back.

The back yard gets full sun and drains well, if that matters.

Drive through your neighborhood and find several houses that have perfect lawns. Ask who they use. Call that professional and hire them. They know what to use when, what the soil in that neighborhood needs, and in the end it usually costs about the same as doing it yourself.

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Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Drive through your neighborhood and find several houses that have perfect lawns. Ask who they use. Call that professional and hire them. They know what to use when, what the soil in that neighborhood needs, and in the end it usually costs about the same as doing it yourself.

Typically less, even if you rate your time as worth a nickel an hour. Of course, if you can get them to teach you, that is better yet...

This really is an easy fix if you are so inclined.

Depending on how big the patches are all you need is a hand held weed thatcher. Mine is shiny metal with teeth that Cris-cross each other, three wide. Once you have the area cleaned completely of dead grass/weeds the soil will be loose enough to mix in some fresh seed. I use Kentucky 31 but don't know about PA. Go to your local garden supply store and talk to them. Then you want to mix in some seed starter/fertilizer...but not too much. Keep it well watered.

If these patches are large, then you can buy a mini-cultivator at any big box store. Mine was under two bills and works very well for small areas.

I guarantee you that you will spend far less money than a professional lawn care company will charge.

if it is wet, make sure you apply fungicide as well. we had to put in some sod because we got hit with fungus after the hurricane. I thought it was chinch bugs, and by focusing on that treatment, missed getting it early.

I'm in SE PA as well and this past year of seemingly incessant rain has been hell on my poor lawn. I think a lot of people's lawns in our area have basically drowned.

I've thrown in the towel and set up with Lawn Doctor to come and do their thing this year and they will power seed in the fall.

You could try raking the hell out of the bad spots then try to scratch up the soil about an inch or so down, then throw a good amount of grass seed and rake it/press it in (I like tall Fescue) and then straw to help keep it moist and from washing away.

It will take a few weeks if this cool April keeps up.